Matty's got this ongoing niggle in his foot area which needs managing. It's just going to be a training session by training session, game-by-game situation with him. If he feels in pain then it's one of those where we going to have to rest him, but if he's feeling okay then we'll get him out to there to help the team.

On the return of Nathan McGinley and Frankie Whelan:

Frankie trained on Thursday night and we hope he'll be available for Saturday. We're a better team with Frankie in the side and he's certainly a big miss when he's out.

Ginners has trained as well so it gives me a full defensive quota to choose from.

On the game against Ashton United:

It certainly wasn't a happy hunting ground for us last season, it was a really difficult day for us. I think Steve Cunningham's done a great job there and they're always fancied to be and around those play-offs which I'm sure they will be this season.

A tough game, but we've gone to places like Lancaster and Ilkeston this season and pulled off, if you like, surprise results, and we'll be hoping to do that again.

Charles on the past month:

Results haven't been going our way as of late. I think the issue for us at the minute is the consistency of our performances, it's no good playing well for 20 minutes, we need to be at it for 90. As a team, we need collective high marks out of ten to help us get results.

I do believe we are on the edge of picking up good results and getting the ball back rolling again and lifting ourselves up the league table.

On the importance of the outcome against Ashton United:

It's not just ourselves going through a rough patch. This league is pretty much an even field this season, and if you go on a run of matches you can climb the table with ease.

We'll go to Ashton and work hard, doing all we can to win the game and bring the points back to get our season going again to climb the league table.

Ashton United in profile

Nickname: The Robins
Manager: Steve Cunningham
Captain: Luke Burke
Last encounter: Ashton United 5-0 Whitby Town, Pitching In Northern Premier League, 18 January 2025, Hurst Cross